Social Sciences, B.A. with a Concentration in Teacher Education

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Students who major in the College of Arts and Sciences B.A. in Social Sciences are exposed to an interdisciplinary curriculum of courses in the social sciences, e.g., anthropology/ sociology, applied economics, history, and political science. Emphasis is given to the common interdisciplinary pursuit of critical thinking as it is applied to the analysis of social problems. Special attention also is given to the study of cultural similarities and differences which define the human experience. In addition to offering students a strong academic background in Social Sciences, the undergraduate major in Social Sciences with a teacher education concentration, provides students the knowledge and skills found in the liberally educated person who is interested in a career in teaching Social Sciences at the secondary level.

Teacher Licensure

This program approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, leads to the Initial Secondary License qualifying students to teach Secondary Social Studies. Students who major in Social Sciences with a concentration in secondary education may obtain an endorsement that prepares them for teaching in the middle school. Students wishing to pursue this endorsement must take three hours of methods related to the middle school. Students should contact their advisor for specific course requirements.

Recommendation for an Illinois State Board of Education teaching license requires passage of the Subject-Matter Knowledge examinations of the Illinois Licensure Testing System, and the national education Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA).

Students must meet other requirements for licensure through approved programs listed in the Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals section in the catalog.

Admission to Social Sciences Teacher Education

In addition to meeting all university admissions requirements for undergraduate students, applicants must meet the following requirements to continue in the program:

1. have a cumulative average G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher in all lower division courses applied to the degree program;
2. submit a word-processed essay not to exceed 300 words explaining why the applicant wishes to be a teacher;
3. complete EDUC - 2310 Foundations of Education (3), (or equivalent) with a grade of “B” or better; and
4. attend Secondary Education Orientation.

All candidates for Illinois teacher licensure at Governors State University are required to submit to a criminal background check prior to their initial field experience in the schools. For more information on this testing visit CastleBranch Consult with your advisor for information concerning the related GSU policies and procedures.

Student Progress

The faculty monitors and evaluates student progress continually. The section, Licensure of Teachers and Other School Professionals, in this catalog provides a general description of the standards used to evaluate student progress. A more detailed statement of the standards and processes followed by the secondary education faculty is available in the Secondary Education Student Handbook.

Conditional Continuation

The faculty may permit a student to continue conditionally. In such cases, faculty reviews of the student’s records identify evidence that the student will likely be successful in the program. The status of all students allowed to continue under conditions is reviewed by the faculty each term, and the students are informed in writing of the conditions necessary for them to be transferred to good standing status. When conditions are met, the student is informed in writing of the transfer to good standing status. A student may not be admitted to student teaching without being in good standing status.

Admission to Student Teaching

Before enrolling in EDUC - 4999 Student Teaching: Senior Capstone (12), an application for admission to student teaching must be submitted to the Director of Educator Preparation in the College of Education. The application must be submitted by December 1 for the fall term and March 1 for the spring term preceding the academic year in which the student intends to teach (student teaching is not offered in the summer term). This application for student teaching will certify that the student applying has or will have met the following requirements:

1. completed general education requirements with a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher;
2. completed professional education course requirements, except student teaching, including 100 clock-hours of field experience with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, with a grade of “C” or better in upper level Social Sciences courses; with a grade of “B” or better;
3. must have completed methods courses no more than two years prior to the commencement of student teaching;
4. must have no more than six hours (at the discretion of the advisor) remaining to be completed in the major, with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher, and completing all courses with a grade of “C” or better;
5. met all state requirements applicable to areas of student teaching assignments as outlined in the “Illinois Program for Evaluation, Supervision, and Recognition of Schools, Part I, Subject G: Staff Qualifications”;
6. submit evidence of having passed the corresponding Social Sciences ILTS Content Area Examination(s) of the Illinois Licensure Testing System; and
7. receive a positive recommendation from the Secondary Education Student Progress Committee.

Degree Requirements

Students must meet all university requirements for a bachelor’s degree within five years of admission to the Program. Students must complete the General Education Requirement for Teacher Licensure, Initial Secondary License listed below. Completion of this requirement meets the general education requirement. In addition, students must:

1. have a cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 or higher;
2. earn a grade of “C” or better in all general education courses;
3. have a G.P.A. of 2.75 or higher for all general education courses;
4. have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher in Social Sciences courses with a grade of “C” or better in each course;
5. have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher for EDUC-3440 and SPED-2100 with a grade of “C” or better in each course;
6. earn a grade of “B” or better in EDUC-2310, and upper level Social Science courses. 
7. earn a grade of “B” or better in EDUC-4999 Student Teaching: Senior Capstone (12);
8. complete a minimum of 100 clock-hours of supervised pre-student teaching experiences;
9. provide evidence of successful completion of Illinois and U.S. Constitution examinations;
10. complete at least one three-hour course in non-western or Third World Cultures;
11. show evidence of having passed the edTPA;
12. meet any additional requirements listed in the Teacher Licensure section of this catalog; and
13. receive a positive recommendation for the Secondary Education Student Progress Committee.

General Education Requirement for Teacher Licensure (40 Hours)

The following courses can be taken at either the lower-division or upper-division level:

• Written Communication (6)
• Oral Communication (3)
• Humanities (English, Foreign Language, History and/or Philosophy) (6)
• Fine Arts (Art, Music, and/or Theater) (3)
• Non-Western/Third World Cultures (3)
• Mathematics (3)
• Biological and Physical Science (including one laboratory course) (7)
• U.S. History (3)
• U.S. Government (3)
• Introduction to Psychology (3)

Social Sciences Core (51 Hours)

Students may seek certification in the following Social Sciences areas: history, political science, economics, and anthropology/sociology.  Students must complete the required number of hours per concentration/endorsement area. The following courses are taken at the lower-division and upper-division levels, as specified:

• History: 18 hours total (9 hours US, 9 hours World, 12 hours at upper level)
• Political Science: 9 hours total (6 hours at upper level)
• Economics: 9 hours total (6 hours at upper level)
• Anthropology/Sociology: 9 hours total (6 hours at upper level)

Professional Education (35 Hours)

• The following courses can be taken at either the lower-division or upper-division level:

• EDUC - 2310 Foundations of Education (3)
• SPED - 2100 Survey of Students with Exceptionalities (3)
• EDCP - 2101 Introduction to Educational Technology (3)

• The following courses must be taken at the upper-division level:

• EDUC - 3440 Educational Psychology II: Learning, Assessment and Classroom Management (3)
• EDUC - 4301 Secondary Microteaching 1 (1)
• EDUC - 4302 Secondary Microteaching 2 (1)
• EDUC - 4380 Methods of Teaching in Social Science I (3)
• EDUC - 4390 Methods of Teaching in Social Science II (3)
• SOSC - 4080 Social Sciences Special Topics (3)
• EDUC - 4999 Student Teaching: Senior Capstone (12)

Total: 124 - 126 Hours